Sunday, March 30, 2014

Missionary Wives Survey, Part 4: More daily life

Photo by: Michelle Meiklejohn

It’s fun to follow missionary women’s days.You can
easily see how normal, yet different they are. Here are a few more daily
schedules. (If you didn’t read the first three posts by missionary wives, you
may access them here, here, and here.)

Monday. (Who doesn’t like a Monday?!) I usually start out
by doing a load of laundry, since I hang my stuff out to dry, and I never know
what the weather is going to do. We homeschool, as well. While the kids do
school, I bounce between doing lunch, teaching them, hanging our clothes, or
any other cleaning that is scheduled. After school, the kids will clean up
their rooms after the busy weekend. We have a large lunch. At 7:30, I leave for
ladies’ prayer meeting. My husband will make a light meal for the children. I
usually get home around 10:30. Then, we’re ready for bed!

________________________________

Tuesday
– Rise early and spend time with the Lord before making breakfast. Once
breakfast is over, we start school. We work on homeschooling until
lunch. We usually take an hour for lunch before starting back to
school. On Tuesdays, for a couple of hours in the afternoon, we do a Bible
study with a woman. During that time, my kids are either doing schoolwork
or playing quietly. Once the Bible study is over, it’s usually time to
finish up with school and start supper. Our neighbor boy comes over almost
every afternoon and stays until after supper. He’s a good friend to the kids as
well as a big help in our language practice! After supper, we catch up on
a few chores, and then we spend the evening playing games before family
devotions, and then bed.

__________________________________

My
favorite day is Tuesday. Get up early, go to gym at 7:00. Come back home,
have devotions, breakfast and shower, get ready to go to a school. We leave
around 9:45, drive an hour and have the privilege of teaching Bible to the
greatest group of kids ever. I teach the younger grades (1-4), and my husband
teaches the older children. I am so convicted that we need to reach the
children of (this country) and have them give their lives completely to the
Lamb of God, if we are going to see revival in (this country). The adults are
so steeped in "religion" and witchcraft. They just add Jesus to their
list of charms. If we can teach the young ones . . . showing to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and His
strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done . . . That they might set
their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep His commandments:
and not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation
that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not steadfast with God
(from Psalm 78). I have a young boy in my class named E.* Oh my, he is something
different! One day, I asked the group of kids how did Jesus know Zacchaeus'
name. I got all the typical kid responses. Then I asked E. He answered, "Because
He is the very Son of God!" He learns every Bible verse, listens intently
to the lessons and just blesses my heart. I feel sure God has great things
planned for this young man. The rest of the day is spent fixing lunch,
cleaning, working on Bible lessons for other areas of ministry, and fixing
supper. Quite often there are those coming to the gate needing assistance, and
there is always an opportunity to share the Gospel.*Name abbreviated.

________________________________

Wednesday
- Work in the church office in the morning and afternoon, make dinner in the
evening, and then go to Bible study. (It really looks like very little that I
do when written down, but I think my Wednesdays and Fridays are the busiest and
craziest days ever!)

________________________________

My days
throughout the week are basically the same right now. My husband has been going
to language class, so I will give the schedule since he started that a month
ago. When I get up, I make breakfast for my husband, take a shower, then start
getting the kids ready for the day. In the mornings, I usually try to do
housework (vacuum, clean bathrooms, etc.). While I am doing this, I try to find
something to keep my kids occupied (several very small children). It's usually
playing with stickers, looking at books, or something like that. About twelve,
I start making lunch (our big meal of the day). We eat around 1:00. Afterwards,
I wash dishes while the kids play and my husband gets ready to start
translation work. At 2:00, the kids will come to the kitchen to play, while I
finish things up and my husband begins work. They go for a nap from three until
six. During that time frame, I do more housework, but this is the main
"quiet time" I have. It could be I have to go to the store during this
time as well. (I walk to the store, so I can't take all the kids with me!).
After naps, it's time for a light supper for everyone. Then, throughout the
evening, I tie up any loose ends (mostly with laundry). Things start winding
down, and around 8:00 I give the children their milk for the evening. And 8:30-9:00
is the rest of the bedtime routine (changing diapers, washing cups, brushing
teeth, prayer time with Daddy included, then bed!) After that, it's just
relaxation time mostly (as long as my baby cooperates).:-)

________________________________

Woke up.
Fed cat. Exercised. Showered. Personal devotions. Made smoothies. Woke children.
Checked children’s hair for lice. Family devotions and practiced special music.
Family language study. Began homeschool. Bible study and lesson preparations.
Called propane company to refill tank. Went to post office to get mail and send
packages. Went to water company for drinking water. Went to the market and
stores. Checked homeschool progress. Prepared lunch. Lunch/Listened to and
discussed audio Bible with children. Started back homeschool. Cleaned. Finances
and correspondence. Prepared materials for Bible Institute. Power nap. Prepared
supper and left instructions for children. Accompanied husband to Bible
Institute in the village. Took attendance, passed out papers, collected fees,
etc. Visited with church members that live in same area. Reminded church staff
members of staff meeting and dinner at our house the following day. Returned
to town. One of my favorite things of the week: supper date with hubby. Skyped
with family, husband’s doctor. pharmacy, and businesses. Read to kids. Prayer
and tucked kids in bed. Fed cat. Hubby time. Tucked hubby in early with
cough drops, tissues, and water. Worked on a chapter for a fiction story (one
of my favorite ways to relax). Personal devotions. Final language study review. Aaaah,
my pillow :)

There’s one more post about Missionary Wives to come. You
won’t want to miss it!

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Hi and welcome to In the Way! I explore many subjects, striving always to present them from a biblical viewpoint. Feel free to browse the tabs at the top for general categories. If you don't see what you're looking for, use the search button below. I'm a pastor's wife, mother of two, grandma, teacher, author, and blogger. I live in a quaint little village in the beautiful Basque region of northern Spain.

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Lou Ann is a young-thinking grandma with an infectious laugh. She rejoices in nature and other beautiful things--including people! She's an avid writer and practices several other artistic expressions, like singing when no one's listening, calligraphy, photography, and even "serious art." Lou Ann loves her Lord Jesus Christ, family, and her church.